Three Dead, 45 Injured in Shinyanga Road Crash: Calls for Improved Road Safety Intensify

By Adonis Byemelwa

Shinyanga: Three people lost their lives, and 45 others were injured following a tragic road accident in Shinyanga Region involving a Happy Nation bus traveling from Mwanza to Dar es Salaam and an LBS Coaster minibus heading from Mwanza to Tabora. The accident occurred on August 19, 2024, in the well-known Savannah area of Shinyanga Town.

Shinyanga District Commissioner, Advocate Julius Mtatiro, provided details of the incident, stating, "The accident happened right here in Shinyanga Town, at the Savannah area, where two vehicles—a Coaster and the Happy Nation bus—both originating from Mwanza and passing through Shinyanga on their respective journeys, collided.

It appears both vehicles were speeding, and the bus driver seems to have been driving recklessly. He attempted to overtake another vehicle, saw an oncoming car, and swerved the Happy Nation bus back to the left, crashing into the Coaster. The Coaster lost control, veered into a ditch, and was severely damaged."

Preliminary reports indicate that the Coaster was carrying 48 passengers, potentially exceeding its capacity. So far, the accident has resulted in three fatalities—a man and two women—while 45 others are receiving medical treatment.

This tragic accident comes in the wake of rising public frustration over road safety in the region. Earlier in January 2024, enraged residents in Bugweto, Shinyanga Municipality, dismantled and dug up the tarmac on the main Shinyanga-Mwanza Road, demanding the installation of speed bumps at the Bugweto junction. The area has been notorious for frequent accidents, causing numerous deaths and injuries.

The incident of road destruction occurred just hours after these residents had blocked the Shinyanga-Mwanza highway following a tragic accident on January 31, 2024. In this accident, two cyclists were struck by a vehicle, resulting in the death of 25-year-old Daudi Kulwa Mwandu, a resident of Bugweto, and severe injuries to 33-year-old Athuman Mtatiro Wambura, a resident of Tambukareli.

Residents speaking to reporters expressed their frustration, claiming that many accidents on the road were due to speeding by drivers, leading to fatal accidents. On that particular morning alone, three accidents had already occurred, highlighting the urgent need for action.

The lack of speed control measures, such as speed bumps, and drivers' disregard for traffic safety rules, have been identified as major contributors to road accidents in the area. Following the road destruction, officers from the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) in Shinyanga were seen constructing speed bumps, while police beefed up security in the area to prevent further incidents.

Shinyanga Regional Police Commander, ACP Janeth Magomi, visited the scene and assured residents that road safety patrols would be intensified. Additionally, Shinyanga District Administrative Secretary, Said Kitinga, took swift action by directing the relevant authorities to address the conundrum.

The deadly accident on August 19, 2024, is part of a broader pattern of road tragedies in Shinyanga. On August 28, 2020, five people perished instantly in Nyasamba village, Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region, after a small Toyota car from Dar es Salaam collided head-on with an NBS bus plying from Mwanza to Tabora.

The deceased were taken to Shinyanga Regional Hospital. ACP Deborah Magiligimba, then the Police Commander for Shinyanga, attributed the accident to speeding, noting that the small car was at fault for crossing into the oncoming lane.

The persistence of road accidents in Tanzania raises serious concerns about the state of road infrastructure and the behavior of drivers. Speeding, reckless driving, and poor road conditions are major causes of these accidents. The absence of effective speed control measures, like speed bumps, in critical areas exacerbates the problem.

Japhet Kabelege, Latra's quality assurance officer, highlighted that driver fatigue continues to be a leading cause of road accidents, according to recent investigations by the regulatory body.

Speaking at a training session in Dar es Salaam for journalists under the Road Safety Journalists Association (TRSJNET) and the Mental Health Journalists Association (TAMHJO) on August 11, 2024, Kabelege revealed that out of 15 road accidents examined in the past month, eight occurred in the early morning hours due to driver fatigue and recklessness.

To combat this ongoing issue, Latra is rolling out a new strategy to closely monitor driver behavior and enforce compliance with the legal requirement that limits drivers to a maximum of eight hours behind the wheel. This strategy is bolstered by advanced technology, with Latra’s vehicle tracking system, introduced in 2017, already yielding positive results.

In a bid to further enhance road safety, Latra plans to introduce a sophisticated camera system on buses. These cameras, positioned at the front, rear, and near the driver’s seat, will monitor critical factors such as passenger numbers, vehicle capacity, and signs of driver fatigue.

Kabelege explained that the cameras would assess not only passenger loading and behavior but also the overall safety environment inside the bus.

With 10,850 vehicles, including special hire buses, school mini-buses, and regular passenger buses, already equipped with these cameras and registered in the Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), Latra is stepping up its efforts to ensure safety on the roads.

The registration of passenger vehicles in the VTS is mandatory, and the system provides crucial data for immediate action, especially in cases of excessive speeding.

To reduce road accidents, Tanzania can look to successful examples in other African countries. For instance, Rwanda has significantly reduced road accidents through a combination of strict traffic enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and the installation of speed control measures.

Similarly, South Africa has invested in improving road infrastructure and implementing advanced traffic management systems, resulting in a noticeable decline in road fatalities.

Tanzania must prioritize road safety by enforcing traffic laws, improving road infrastructure, and educating drivers and the public about safe driving practices. Addressing these issues can save countless lives and prevent further tragedies on the nation's roads.